Posted in Commonplace Book

“Presents become less important when the family traditions are rich in other ways” Esther Leisher

I don't know.  Maybe dh and I have been listening too much to Dave Ramsey.  All I know is that the both of us were really starting to stress out about the gifts or rather lack of gifts, under the tree for eachother and the boys.  One look at our bank account and you will see that the block wall around our yard is why but that still doesn't make it any easier.  You know it was all quite simple until we started watching TV again.  I can't believe what a guilt trip I have gone through about staying on budget, within budget all because of stupid commericals.  We are determined this year to not go into debt over Christmas.  We discussed the whole matter with the kids and they were as understanding as kids can be but they don't know.  I didn't want my kiddos to think that being broke was a life sentence though.  In their lifetime they will have difficulties and I want them to see glasses half full of possibilies and that G-d stustains us.  I know that what they see us do now, as the adults and parents, will be important to them in their future.  So while we aren't giving each other "new" gifts this season, we are giving each other gifts -- Silly Gifts as my ds6 so proudly announces. 

What you ask are Silly Gifts?  Well, silly gifts are the things you already have sitting around the house.  They can be something that one of us loves (like a jar of peanut butter) or some sort of service (like a dh's polished work shoes wrapped in a box) or something corny (a jar of applesauce with "Your the Apple of my eye" written on it) or a wish for that person (like the half eaten bag of corn chips with a note saying "I hope you get to watch more football this coming year").  Silly - really silly - down right goofy to the point that I think we will be giving Silly Gifts from now on. 

My point was to make sure that my boys understood that we are already soooo very blessed in so many ways and that we need to see and find JOY in EVERY situation.  It is commanded of us.  It is also commanded that we be good stewards of our things.  So until the 25th I can't tell you what silly gift I got but I can be sure that we aren't in debt over it and that we probably started a new tradition LOL.